Saturday, 9 June 2012

Back again!

Sometimes the days are busy and the evenings pass too quickly ... so "The Rev and a Dog" simply 'call it a day' and go to bed! The dog seems to be able to sleep quite a bit of the day as well ... and with the run of wet days he's not really had the inclination to go out very much at all.
All he seems to want is a little bit of play and then the freedom to sleep!

However, if he suspects that someone is going to visit ... then his position is right in the middle of the hallway to watch the door. I don't suppose he understands (any more than his human does) that 'a watched pot never boils'. That of course, isn't true! It will boil and it will take the same time to boil whether or not it is kept under observation!

The Jubilee weekend with the extra holiday meant that at long last the Phormium (New Zealand Flax) at my house could be tackled! This has been a multi-stage task ... a 'triffid' that started life as a cute little bronze pot plant ... which had grown so tall that the flower spike was reaching the upstairs windows ... was taking over the entire back garden!
Weed-killer began the extermination process ... some digging and pulling removed the outer shoots, clipping took off the top ... but more drastic measures were called for!

FIRE!

All I have to do now is work out how to get the roots up!
Since then the days have been too wet to do much outside at all ...

Not only wet but also windy! The rainbow windmills do at least give a bit of colour on the dull grey days!

So ... to those who were complaining about lack of blog ... this at least is a small offering today ... Saint Columba's Day.

The Abbey on Iona is a place of great stillness. Some years ago I found a quotation from Saint Columba that I used in a calligraphy exam. The piece is now framed and hangs in the breakfast room.

"In the stillness of my heart I can hear his voice. I am but a servant who is guided by the King ... when I stand alone and listen."

Elizabeth the Rector

I'm a Parish Priest in Belfast.
After reading geography at Queen's University, Belfast I began a teaching career in Lurgan Technical College. Then, after three years of further study in London Bible College (The London School of Theology) I began teaching Religious Studies in Kilkeel - in the school where I'd been a pupil!
In 1999 I resigned from that post and began a two year course in Dublin; both at the Church of Ireland Theological College and The Milltown Institute, in preparation for the ordained ministry.
The curacy years were in Bangor Abbey and then I moved to the country as rector of two small parish churches.
In 2008 I accepted a call to Saint Nicholas' on the Lisburn Road in Belfast.
Keep up to date with the church information at:
http://saintnicholasparishchurchbelfast.shutterfly.com/